Agricultural Resouces

How to Begin Your Small Farm Dream

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  • Digital Download

This plain language guide is written for people who want to start a small farm business. This guide will help you think about the benefits and challenges of owning a farm before you begin, and will introduce you to services that will help you put your farm dream into action. 

In this guide, you will learn about:

  • Skills you need to start a small farm
  • Risks & rewards of owning a farm
  • Resources for investing in your farm
  • Making a farm business plan
  • Marketing your products

This guide was written for small farmers in the Northeast United States, but can certainly be used in other regions - just keep in mind that some of the example figures might be different in your area. 

10.8.24 // 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Growing Under Cover and Securing NRCS Funds for High Tunnels

This workshop is ideal for farmers looking to grow more under high tunnels (and other covered structures) and receive financial support for infrastructure.

10.28.24 // 8:00am to 10.30.24 // 5:00pm

2024 National FIELD School

Join your peers who operate land-based farmer training programs to gather new ideas for programming, workshop collective challenges, build relationships, and advance our collective work. Join the field trips to local incubator and apprenticeship projects to see programs' land-based facilities, farm/ranch operations, and to learn together how each incubator farm and apprenticeship training program is unique. Gain new skills, meet new connections and be inspired!

3.15.24 // 1:00pm to 2:00pm

FIELD Network - Monthly Networking Session

Join the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project and the FIELD Network for our Monthly Networking Session! Connect with staff of land-based farm incubator and apprenticeship training programs! Share challenges faced by land-based training programs supporting a diversity of beginning farmers and brainstorm ideas, solutions, and shared resources. Network in breakout groups to mix and mingle with other incubator farm program staff and apprenticeship staff across the country to connect and share project updates!

2.9.24 // 1:00pm to 2:00pm

FIELD Network - Monthly Networking Session - Accessibility

Join the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project and the FIELD Network for our Monthly Networking Session! Connect with staff of land-based farm incubator and apprenticeship training programs! Share challenges faced by land-based training programs supporting a diversity of beginning farmers and brainstorm ideas, solutions, and shared resources. Network in breakout groups to mix and mingle with other incubator farm program staff and apprenticeship staff across the country to connect and share project updates!

Starting a Farm From Scratch - Decision Tool

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  • Digital Download

To a beginning farmer, the project of establishing a working farm at a new site can feel overwhelming. Depending on what resources already exist at the property, the task of identifying, prioritizing, and paying for needed improvements can be a difficult road to cultivate productive farmland.

This tool is designed to help a farmer who is considering establishing a farm at a new site to examine the scope of improvements the site may require, to prioritize which upgrades should be made, and to identify various organizations and funding sources that might offer advice and/or financing for farm-related improvements. Beginning with a section about selecting a farm enterprise, this resource then addresses Land Access, Utilities and Energy, Structures, and Equipment.

This tool is designed with farmers in Massachusetts specifically in mind, but many of the elements considered are applicable to farmers in other states, as many of the MA-based organizations and resources have parallels in other states as well. Each section below will include 1) Key Considerations and Questions, 2) Resources, and 3) Contacts related to that section, and some sections will also have 4) Financing information as well.

This is not an exhaustive list of key considerations and resources associated with starting or improving a farm on a new site. Hopefully the information provided will prove valuable to farmers as they undertake the important and demanding work of creating the conditions by which a property can generate value for the community and provide a sustainable income for the producer.

2023 FIELD School Program Booklet

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  • Digital Download

2023 FIELD School Program book with schedule, workshop descriptions, speaker bios, and more!

10.6.23 // 1:00pm to 2:00pm

FIELD Network - Monthly Networking Session - Recruitment Best Practices

Join the FIELD Network to connect with staff of land-based farm incubator and apprenticeship training programs!

New Entry Incubator Program Evaluation Infographic (2021)

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  • Digital Download

Between 2005-2020, 60 farmers participated in the New Entry incubator program.  This infographic shares results of a survey of graduates and farmer focus groups to share information about program outcomes, and successes and challenges for beginning farmers as they transitioned off the incubator program.

2022 Annual Report

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  • Digital Download

New Entry has worked for over 24 years to establish a model of local, regional, and national programming that strengthens local food systems by supporting new farmers. We serve and collaborate with the people, communities, and organizations in Massachusetts, the Northeast, and beyond.

2022 was a year of resourcefulness and resilience. We worked diligently to improve our capital assets on our incubator farm, support farmers with dozens of workshops on agricutlure technology, food safety, accessing federal programs, and to plan for the 2022 growing season. We faced a debilitating drought which impacted crops and yields, yet we accomplished much and made significant progress supporting new farmers, feeding our community, and bolstering our local, regional, and national food systems.  We were able to bring back on-farm community events and host hundreds of visitors to the farm in 2022 through tours, networking events, farm-to-table dinners and our famous Pumpkin Smash.  We hosted our national FIELD School in person after two years of virtual conferences with a successful event in Seattle, WA that built new connections and collaborations across the country.  These efforts and more helped inform many of the new relationships and future strategic directions we are approaching with our work as we move forward in the year ahead.  To dig into what we accomplished in 2022 and learn about our plans for 2023 - enjoy!

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